parliamentary panel has agreed on a bill to increase traffic fines by 10% every year

NEWDELHI: A parliamentary panel has agreed to a 10% annual increase in the fines for various traffic violations including drunken driving, talking on mobile, rash and negligent driving.

The panel was studying the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which already proposes a significant increase in penalties for traffic offences.

The bill has been cleared by the Lok Sabha in April and is pending in the Rajya Sabha.

Drunken driving — one of the main causes of deaths in road accidents in India — will invite a fine of ₹10,000 from the existing ₹2,000. Talking on mobile phones while driving will result in a fine of ₹5,000, up from the present ₹1,000. For red light jumping, driving without seat belt/helmet, the proposed fine is ₹1,000.